Synthesis of nano cellulose fibers and effect on thermoplastics starch based films

Starch based films limit their application due to highly hydrophilic nature and poor mechanical properties. This problem was sought to be overcome by forming a nanocomposite of Thermoplastic starch (TPS) and Nano-Cellulose fibers (NCF). NCF was successfully synthesised from short stable cotton fibres by a chemo-mechanical process. TPS/NCF composite films were prepared by solution casting method, and their characterizations were done in terms of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). morphology (SEM). water vapor permeability (WVTR), oxygen transmission rate (OTR), X-ray diffractograms, light transmittance and tensile properties. At very low concentration of NCF filled TPS composite film showed improvement in properties. The 0.4 wt% NCF loaded TPS films showed 46.10% improved tensile strength than by base polymer film, beyond that 0.5 wt% concentration tensile strength starts to deteriorate. WVTR and OTR results showed improved water vapor barrier property of TPS matrix. The DSC thermograms of TPS and composite films did not show any significant effect on the melting point of composite film to the base polymer TPS. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.